An Australian baggy green cricket cap worn by Don Bradman in 1948 – 1948 against India has been sold at auction in Sydney for AU$500,000, around £245,000 and a record for the player.
Baggy green describes the characteristiclly over-sized caps worn by Australian cricketers.
These days, players are awarded a single cap that is supposed to last their whole international career.
Bradman, who played 52 tests for Australia between 1928 and 1948, was awarded a new one for each series he played.
And caps worn by the player generally accepted as the greatest ever batter and among Australia’s most-loved historical personalities are extremely valuable.
This is a record for a Bradman cap. In 2020 his debut cap from 1928 realised AU$450,000 at auction. The one he wore on his final tour in 1948, when a last innings duck at the Oval denied him an average of 100, realised AU$425,000 in 2003 (it was sold again for AU$400,000 in 2008).
Peter Freedman, the founder of Rode microphones, bought the debut-cap. The Sydney-based billionaire is a well-known collector and paid a record figure for a guitar to get his hands on Kurt Cobain’s Unplugged acoustic, paying just over $6 million.
Don Bradman, great cricketer, great Australian, and greatly valued by collectors.
The most valuable Australian cricket relic of all is Shane Warne’s debut cap.
That was sold for a staggering $1,007,500 in 2020.
Bradman’s test record is extraordinary. And his life story – practising hitting a golf ball with a wicket and working his way up the leagues – is seen as emblematically Australian.
The tour was historic as India’s first visit to Australia. Bradman gave the tourists a typical welcome, by whacking 715 runs in the series, notching his 100th first-class century on the way to a 178.75 series average.
The cap was gifted to Pankaj Gupta, India’s tour manager, by Bradman. He gave it to the teams wicket keeper PK Sen.
It was sold by Bonham’s at a single item sale.
Merryn Schriever, Managing Director, Bonhams Australia said: “We are delighted with this result. Both the previews and the auction attracted significant interest from Bradman enthusiasts. The sale saw brisk and enthusiastic bidding both in the room and online, testimony the symbolism and heritage of this very special lot. The baggy green has been acquired by a private collector who will be retaining it in Australia.”
Some sun damage, a slightly damaged peak, and evidence of hungry insects are the only blemishes recorded on the cap.
